Meetings

Edgar Cage and the Rev. Lee Wesley, both representing Together
Louisiana/Together Baton Rouge, will be the guest speakers at the Press Club of Baton
Rouge on Monday, April 22. Cage is a community activist, and Wesley is
pastor at the Community Bible Baptist Church. Their topic is “keep it local.” Press Club meets on Mondays
at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the
East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower
Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for
nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the
news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion
of the program.

Dr. Rani Whitfield, MD, also known as the “hip hop doc,” will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, April 15. Dr. Whitfield is a board-certified family physician and serves on the Southern University Board of Supervisors. He will discuss the alarming rise in suicides among African American males and the current status of medical marijuana. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

The Press Club of Baton Rouge will not meet on Monday, April 8, because of the start of the Louisiana legislative session. The meetings will resume on April 15 with speaker Dr. Rani G. Whitfield, who will discuss the rising rate of suicide among African American males and the status of medical marijuana production at Southern University. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St.

Erich Ponti, president of the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, April 1. He will discuss a legislative measure to increase the gas tax to provide funding for Louisiana’s roads and bridges. LCFOR, comprised of business leaders, trade organizations and Chamber of Commerce representatives, is focused on educating the public on current conditions of roads and bridges, advocating for change and helping to identify fiscal solutions. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

State Senator Eddie Lambert, from Prairieville, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 25. As vice chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, he will talk about the state’s master plan for flood control and coastal restoration. Because of the historic flooding along the Mississippi River, Sen. Lambert is working with state officials to review options to lessen the growing danger and repeat occurrences of high water in Louisiana. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson will speak to the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 18. He will discuss statewide infrastructure and ongoing projects. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

Barry Erwin, president and CEO of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 11. He will discuss the 2019 state elections and a first-time collaboration between CABL, the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) and the Committee of 100 to develop and promote a shared agenda for the state and establish a vision for the future in critical issue areas. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

Daniel Erspamer, chief executive officer of the Pelican Institute, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 4. He will discuss how the New Orleans-based think tank is preparing for the 2019 Legislative Session and will review the impact of criminal justice reform, which passed with the assistance of his group. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

John White, superintendent of the Louisiana Department of Education, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Feb. 25. He will discuss the upcoming legislative session. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education, Kim Hunter Reed, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Feb. 18. She will provide an update on her first seven months on the job and describe ongoing efforts to update the Master Plan for Higher Education in the state, which outlines minimum admissions requirements for students and serves as a visionary document for colleges and universities across Louisiana. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.